International Basketball Blog – Page 30 – NBA Blog

Jeremy Lin and Greg Stiemsma withdraw from USA Men’s Select Team

New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin and Boston Celtics center Greg Stiemsma have withdrawn from the 2012 USA Men’s Select Team that will train July 6-11 against the 2012 USA Basketball Men’s National Team during training camp in Las Vegas, Nev.

Lin informed USA Basketball this afternoon that because of his current contract status (a restricted free agent) he was withdrawing. Stiemsma was forced to withdraw after undergoing a non-surgical process for Plantar Fasciitis.

“Unfortunately, I am not going to be able to participate in the 2012 USA Men’s Select Team this summer,” said Lin. “It was such an incredible honor to be selected, but I have withdrawn my name from the team because of my status as a free agent. I hope to have the opportunity to participate with USA Basketball at some point in the future.”

Pistons will sign Ukranian center Vyacheslav Kravtsov

The Detroit Pistons have struck a verbal agreement to sign Ukranian center Vyacheslav Kravtsov to a multiyear deal, according to his agent.

“Vyacheslav intends to sign a player contract with the Pistons when the moratorium period ends,” Kravtsov’s representative, Jeff Schwartz, said Sunday night.

Pistons president Joe Dumars confirmed the negotiations in a statement Monday.

“We are engaged in negotiations with Vyacheslav Kravtsov and will enter into a player contract when the moratorium period ends,” he said in the statement.

— Reported by Marc Stein of ESPN.com

No Ben Gordon at British Olympic training camp

Britain has lost a second NBA player for the men’s basketball tournament at the Olympic Games after Ben Gordon failed to link up with the squad at its training camp in the United States.

Britain coach Chris Spice says the guard couldn’t commit to playing for the host nation after he was traded from the Detroit Pistons to the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday.

Spice says “It’s really disappointing as he’s a world-class player who would have made a huge difference.”

With Bobcats center Byron Mullens out because of injury, it leaves Britain with only one NBA player — Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Chris Bosh not playing for USA Basketball this summer

Olympic gold medalist Chris Bosh (Miami Heat) yesterday informed USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo and USA Basketball Men’s National Team head coach Mike Krzyzewski that because of his strained abdominal muscle he will be unable to play for the USA Basketball National Team this summer.

“I am extremely disappointed to say that due to injury, I cannot represent my country in the 2012 Olympics in London. The abdominal injury that I suffered in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals is not fully healed. After the Finals, I met with my doctors to determine the best course of action, with the full intent to play in the Olympics. From those meetings, I was advised that rest and additional rehab of my abdominal injury will be necessary in order to avoid the development of a chronic injury,” said Bosh.

“Having enjoyed the honor of representing my country in the 2008 Olympics, when we won the gold medal, I wanted to be part of that experience again. However, I must follow my doctors’ advice and properly take care of this injury. My thoughts will be with our guys in London in August and I am confident that Coach K and the USA Basketball staff will bring home the gold again to the USA.”

“I got a call this morning from Chris who said the doctor recommended that he not go forward because they were concerned about him re-aggravating the abdominal strain and it could turn out be a chronic situation so he wouldn’t be able to play.” said Colangelo. “He’ll be missed, but we have to move on. We’ve taken four bullets with the injuries to Rose, (Dwight) Howard, (Dwyane) Wade and now (Chris) Bosh and it will now be a testimony to the infrastructure we put in with the national team roster. I feel very confident about our roster going forward.

“Adversity gives people opportunity, and guess what? It’s going to open up a couple of roster positions,” added Colangelo.

“We’re totally supportive of Chris and hope he recovers fully for his season next year. We’ll miss him; he was really a key player for us in winning the gold in 2008 and we thank him for his service to USA Basketball. I really loved coaching him,” said Krzyzewski.

“It is obvious why we have built a pool of players over the last seven years to take care of situations like these. This opens up opportunities for other players in the pool to show their talents.”

Bosh in the 2008 Olympics averaged 9.1 points and 6.1 rebounds, while shooting 77.4 percent from the field to help the USA finish 8-0 and win the gold medal. At the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, he recorded 6.8 points and 4.0 rebounds as the American team finished 8-1 and in possession of the bronze medal.

Knicks draft Kostas Papanikolaou of Greece

The Knicks looked to the future Thursday on draft night, selecting Kostas Papanikolaou of Greece with the 48th overall pick. It was a decision that disappointed many fans because Papanikolaou, a 6-foot-8 forward, will probably play overseas for at least two years.

Last season, Papanikolaou played for Olympiacos. He helped the team beat C.S.K.A. Moscow, 62-61, in the Turkish Euroleague championship game.

Papanikolaou averaged 7.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last season. He is also a member of Greece’s Olympic national team.

“He plays hard and he’s highly skilled,” General Manager Glen Grunwald said. “He needs to improve his shooting, but we watched him improve over the course of this year.”

Papanikolaou will not join the team during its summer league games next month in Las Vegas because he still has one year left on his contract.

— Reported by Nate Taylor and Howard Beck of the New York Times

Dwyane Wade needs knee surgery, will miss Olympics

Dwyane Wade needs surgery on his ailing left knee and will not play in next month’s London Olympics.

The Miami Heat guard called USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo and Olympic coach Mike Krzyzewski on Thursday to break the news, which was not totally unexpected after Wade played through pain in the postseason. He appeared in all 23 Heat playoff games despite the knee problems, averaging 22.6 points during Miami’s five-game win over Oklahoma City in the NBA Finals.

”I’ve decided to listen to my doctors and get the procedure I need on my knee,” Wade told The Associated Press on Thursday. ”USA Basketball said I had to what was best for me. They want me to be obviously as healthy as possible so I can continue to play this game at a high level. They were very supportive and told me if I ever want to come around the team, I’m welcome and that I’m part of the family.”

Wade and his doctors are in the process of scheduling the surgery. Wade has been told it will be basically a ”cleanup” procedure and should have him on crutches for only about a day afterward.

If all goes according to plan, Wade will be ready for the start of training camp with the Heat this fall.

— Reported by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press

Grant Hill named to Presidential Delegation to opening ceremony of 2012 Olympics

President Obama announced the Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, which will include Phoenix Suns forward and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Grant Hill. First Lady Michelle Obama will lead the delegation this summer, accompanied by Olympic and Paralympic greats to attend the Opening Ceremony, meet with U.S. athletes, and encourage American children to be active in their daily lives.

The First Lady is working to turn the inspiration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games into action by getting more kids healthy and active. In May, the First Lady joined U.S. Olympians, Paralympians, and London hopefuls to announce a nationwide commitment to get more than 1.7 million American children active as part of her Let’s Move! initiative to solve the problem of childhood obesity in a generation. In March, Mrs. Obama welcomed Mrs. Samantha Cameron, wife of British Prime Minister David Cameron, to the United States by hosting a mini-Olympic event for local school children and in April, Mrs. Obama spoke at the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Warrior Games.

“This summer I’ll be cheering on Team U.S.A. at the Olympic Games in London with this distinguished group of champions who truly represent the best of our country,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “Olympians and Paralympians are true American heroes and role models for all of us, especially our young people. And I know that this delegation will help inspire a generation of young people to get into the Olympic spirit by getting active and healthy so they can reach their fullest potential and reach their dreams.”

Members of the Delegation

– First Lady Michelle Obama

– The Honorable Louis B. Susman, United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

– Ms. Brandi Chastain, 2-time Olympic gold medalist (1996, 2004), 1-time Olympic silver medalist (2000), Women’s Soccer

– Ms. Dominique Dawes, Co-chair of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and Olympic gold medalist (1996), 3-time Olympic bronze medalist (1992, 1996, 2000), Women’s Gymnastics

– Mr. Gabriel Diaz de Leon, Paralympic javelin gold medalist (1992), Paralympic discus silver medalist (1992), Paralympic shot put and discus bronze medalist (1988, 1996, 2000)

– Mr. Grant Hill, Member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and Olympic gold medalist (1996), Men’s Basketball

– Ms. Summer Sanders, 2-time Olympic gold medalist (1992), 1-time Olympic silver medalist (1992), 1-time Olympic bronze medalist (1992), Women’s Swimming

Tony Parker may miss Olympics due to eye injury from Drake vs Chris Brown fight

French basketball team leader Tony Parker could miss the Olympics because has not recovered as fast as expected from an injury to his left eye.

The San Antonio Spurs guard was injured in a New York nightclub 10 days ago and said he eventually had to undergo surgery to have a shard of glass removed from his eye, which he was at risk of losing.

Parker had expected to be back training after a week-long rest but said on Sunday he was still sidelined and may have to withdraw from the London Games.

“As required by the Spurs, I will go back to the U.S. on July 5… I will visit a specialist in New York, hoping he will give the green light to compete at the Games,” Parker said on his official website (www.tp9.net).

— Reported by Reuters

Dwyane Wade might need knee surgery, may miss Olympics

Dwyane Wade played with knee pain throughout the playoffs. He’ll soon know exactly what was causing that problem, and if it could keep him out of the London Olympics.

One day after celebrating his second NBA championship, the Miami Heat guard told The Associated Press on Friday that he will soon have his ailing left knee examined, and acknowledges that surgery may be a possibility. Wade appeared in all 23 postseason games for Miami, averaging 22.8 points, and scored 20 in the title-clinching win for the Heat against Oklahoma City on Thursday night.

“I’ve got to make a decision on what my knee needs and what’s best, because my career and finishing my career strong is what’s important to me,” Wade said. “And I know, yeah, the Olympics are coming up. It’s something I really want to do. But at the same time, if I have to make a big decision, if something has to happen surgery-wise, that will have to be a step I have to take. My loyalty and my commitment to Miami Heat basketball is the No. 1 thing.”

— Reported by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press

Knicks interested in point guard Pablo Prigioni

The Knicks’ interest in Spanish League veteran point guard Pablo Prigioni does not surprise Walter Szczerbiak one bit.

Prigioni, the playmaker on Argentina’s 2004 Olympic gold-medal-winning team that knocked off Team USA, is 35, but Szczerbiak — the U.S. ambassador to the Spanish League for 25 years before stepping down this season — says that’s not a big factor.

“I’m pretty sure he’d be better than a lot of young point guards in the NBA you get,’’ Szczerbiak told The Post. “He’s really been through the wars. Spain is a real pressure cooker. Every game is playoff intensity. The NBA, it’s more in the playoffs. He has great experience in tough situations and he’s a good leader.’’

Prigioni, who has played in the Spanish League since 1999-2000, met with Knicks brass last week for two days, including a dinner with president Glen Grunwald and coach Mike Woodson. The Knicks know the Spanish League better than most NBA teams — their longtime European scout, Kevin Wilson, lives in Barcelona.

“He’s 35, but he has a great body,’’ Szczerbiak said of Prigioni. “I’m sure he’s slowed down a little, but he’s still got pretty good quickness. For 35, he’s got the right kind of body — wiry, never been overweight. He’s like Steve Nash that way. You’d think he was younger than 35 the way he looks.’’

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post